CULTR BLF 44 - The Cradle of History: Ancient Historians and their Afterlives

Institution:

Harvard University

Subject:

Description:

2500 years ago a Greek writer chose the word "history" to characterize his account of the Persian Wars. Why? We still use the word today; but what does it mean to us, and how has that meaning developed from the works of our western forebears? This course offers a lively introduction to the ancient historians' works, lives, and afterlives with particular attention to the nature of historical truth, changing ideas of history in their cultural contexts, the role and relevance of history in ancient and modern life, and the cultural legacy of the Greek and Roman world. Readings from Herodotus, Thucydides, Livy, Tacitus, Machiavelli, Hobbes, Nietzsche.

Credits:

4.00

Credit Hours:

Prerequisites:

Corequisites:

Exclusions:

Level:

Instructional Type:

Lecture

Notes:

Additional Information:

Historical Version(s):

Institution Website:

www.harvard.edu

Phone Number:

(617) 495-1000

Regional Accreditation:

New England Association of Schools and Colleges

Calendar System:

Semester

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